Bengaluru: it’s very unusual that a pacesetter from one party tried to intervene in what might just be happening with a pacesetter in another party – but Karnataka politics is usually filled with surprises.
After speculation of Karnataka’s Chief Minister, BS Yediyurappa, possibly stepping down from his post, fellow Lingayat and Congress leader MB Patil tweeted on Monday: “@BJP4India May face the wrath of Lingayats, if they ill treat Tall leader @CMofKarnataka @bsybjp. @bjp4india shd value contribution of @bsybjp, & treat him with with dignity. this is often my personal opinion, understanding that the proposed changes maybe internal matters of the BJP (sic).”
As a Lingayat, Mr Yediyurappa represents a dominant caste in Karnataka, seen as a BJP vote base. this is often believed to be one among the explanations for his clout within the party over the years.
The BJP wasn’t too pleased with these comments, with the state party unit tweeting: “Sri @MBPatil and his guru Sri @siddaramaiah tried their best to divide Veerashaivas and Lingayats. Today, Sri Patil is day dreaming that he can emerge as Lingayat leader by expressing FAKE concern for Lingayat community. People aren’t living in Rahul’s Paradise to believe him (sic).”
Sri @MBPatil & his guru Sri @siddaramaiah tried their best to divide Veerashaivas & Lingayats.
Today, Sri Patil is day dreaming that he can emerge as Lingayat leader by expressing FAKE concern for Lingayat community.
People are not living in Rahul's Paradise to believe him.
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) July 20, 2021
Mr Patil replied, with more praise of Mr Yediyurappa’s ‘toil’, and adding former prime minister and Janata Dal Secular leader HD Deve Gowda and therefore the Congress’s former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah within the utterance of honours.
“A delusional person made an Audio rec of himself in Bad Taste & leaked it. Same person is behind these below the belt tweets. Common ppl of all communities & VL’s, who’ve seen BSY toil accept as true with my statement He doesn’t know the toiling of Siddaramaiah, BS Yediyurappa and HD Deve Gowda,” the Congress leader tweeted.
Speculation about the possible resignation of the BJP’s first and only Chief Minister in south India peaked after a sudden trip he made to Delhi last week, during which Mr Yediyurappa met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior BJP leaders. The 78-year-old veteran has been denying any discussion of resignation. Mr Yediyurappa completes two years in office for this term on July 26, and has involved a state legislature party meeting thereon day.
